(Natural News)
In a move that is sure to get liberal snowflakes rushing to their safe spaces faster than ever, Princeton University is now encouraging students
to report “problematic experiences based on [their] identity.” This
means that if students find themselves in a situation that makes them
feel offended or uncomfortable in anyway, they can – and should,
according to Princeton – go tell somebody about it, even if it is
something that normally wouldn’t result in disci

It’s said that about 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned by the second week of February.1
This means if you made one for 2018, there’s a good chance it may
already have failed. There’s also a sizable number of people who set no
goals at all, New Year’s resolutions or otherwise, in part because they
may not realize the importance of goal setting and in part because they
may not know how to do it.2
There are other reasons why you may avoid goal setting as well,

(Natural News)
Beginning shortly after President Donald J. Trump defeated Hillary
Clinton in the 2016 election, Americans were treated to a steady diet of
stories from the American Pravda media claiming that he “colluded” with
the Russian government to “steal the election.”
For months information meant to substantiate the claim, made in the
absence of any real evidence, was “leaked” to various news outlets known
to be friendly to Clinton, Democrats, and every known enemy

Achiote: Add Color to Your Plate With This Spice

Achiote (Bixa orellana), or annatto, is a spice that is used by a large
portion of the world's population. It's easy to decipher whether a dish
contains achiote through the distinct red-orange color that it gives
off.
While the main use for achiote is for dyeing and coloring, it also adds a
subtle flavor to any dish. In small amounts, achiote does not exude a
very strong flavor, but if used copiously, people have noted that it has
a subtle peppery taste with a nutty and sweet aroma.1

This spice is largely used in Latin American and Asian cuisine. It's
widely known in South America in particular, where it is believed to
have originated.2
Achiote was also introduced to other countries by trade, which explains
its widespread use in various regions.
Accounts say that marketeers from Mexico first traded achiote seeds and
followed the trade routes of other spices, which then led to its
introduction to Europe, Africa and Asia.

Nowadays, it is still utilized by the Tsachila in Ecuador as a hair dye and by the Zo'e tribe of Brazil as body paint.3
While people usually value it for its color, achiote has also been used
for its medicinal properties, and is now being studied for its
antioxidative and anticancer effects.4

Nutritional Benefits You Get From Achiote

Consuming achiote offers various health benefits, as it contains vitamins, minerals and other nutrients such as:

Carotenoids. The achiote plant contains the
carotenoid bixin, which is solely found in this plant. Bixin has been
observed to seek out reactive oxygen species (ROS) and minimize the risk
of diabetic complications that may be caused by oxidative stress. This
component also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help in
speeding up wound healing.5

Antimicrobial compounds. The methanolic extract
taken from achiote leaves has been the subject of numerous studies, with
the results showing its antibacterial and antifungal properties. It has
also been used in folkloric medicine to help ease gonorrhea and skin conditions.6

Calcium. Achiote contains a considerable amount of
calcium, which is essential for maintaining bone health and preventing
bone deterioration brought on by aging.

Folate. It offers high amounts of folate, which is
necessary for a healthy pregnancy. Pregnant women are advised to eat
food that is rich in folate to aid in the development of the fetus and
to avoid the risk of birth defects.7

Alternative Ways to Use the Achiote Plant

The seeds of this plant are usually processed and sold as either achiote
paste or achiote powder. While the most utilized part of the plant is
the achiote seeds, the leaves, roots and bark can also be used
medicinally. Here are some other ways to use the achiote plant:8

To alleviate fever, you can boil the leaves and apply them to your head and body.

To accelerate wound healing, a concoction of the
achiote leaves may be used in washing wounds. Bixin is also extracted
from the achiote plant for its anti-inflammatory properties.9

To ease sore throat, you can boil young leaves and
use it as a gargle. Make sure that the concoction cools to avoid
accidentally scalding your mouth.

To soothe burns, the seeds can be ground, boiled and applied to burns.

It has also been used as a laxative, cardiotonic, expectorant and
antibiotic. Indigenous people have also used achiote seeds topically to
shield themselves from the effects of too much ultraviolet exposure.10

Grow Your Own Organic Achiote

Achiote can be planted directly in the ground in warm-weather locations,
but it should be planted in a large container in other regions. Achiote
thrives in tropical environments and is usually planted in warmer
regions. Because of the varying temperatures and location, achiote
plants have different flowering and maturing time.11 Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can grow your own achiote plant:12

Plant the seeds in well-drained, sandy compost. They can be planted at any time of the year.

Cover the seeds with a thin layer of sand or grit. Keep the sand
moist. The temperature should be kept at around 60 to 77 degrees
Fahrenheit.

Wait for the seeds to germinate. It normally takes about four to six weeks, but it can take much longer.

Try These Tasty and Healthy Achiote Recipes

Cooking with achiote paste is not a foreign concept for some people,
especially if they are familiar with Latin American recipes. Achiote
paste is a popular Yucatecan ingredient, and is usually called "recado
rojo." It's generally a mixture of annatto seeds, peppercorns, allspice
berries, cumin and other spices.
Judging by the wide variety of spices present in recado rojo, many
people ask what achiote paste tastes like. The paste actually has an
earthy and zesty flavor, which goes great with chicken and other meats.